Charts for fetal age assessment based on fetal sonographic biometry in a population from Cali, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: To create reference charts for fetal age assessment based on fetal sonographic biometry in a population of pregnant women living in the third largest city in Colombia and compare them with charts included in ultrasound machines. METHODS: The study data were obtained from women with a single pregnancy and confirmed gestational age between 12 and 40 completed weeks. All women were recruited specifically for the study, and every fetus was measured only once for biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length. Polynomial regression models for gestational age as a function of each fetal measurement were fitted to estimate the mean and standard deviation. Percentile curves of gestational age were constructed for each fetal measurement using these regression models. RESULTS: Biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length were measured in 792 fetuses. Tables and charts of gestational age were derived for each fetal parameter. A cubic polynomial model was the best-fitted regression model to describe the relationships between gestational age and each fetal measurement. The standard deviation was estimated by simple linear regression as a function of each fetal measurement. Comparison of our gestational age mean z scores with those calculated by reference equations showed statistically significant differences (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: We present a set of reference charts, tables, and formulas for fetal age assessment based on fetal sonographic biometry. The results support the recommendation that these charts and tables could be more appropriate for assessing fetal age in Colombian populations than those currently included in the software of ultrasound machines.

Fetal size charts for a population from Cali, Colombia: sonographic measurements of biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length.

OBJECTIVES: To create reference charts for fetal sonographic biometric measurements in a population of pregnant women living in the third largest city in Colombia and compare them with charts included in ultrasound machines. METHODS: The data were obtained from women with a single pregnancy and confirmed gestational (menstrual) age between 12 and 40 weeks. All women were recruited specifically for the study, and every fetus was measured only once for biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length. Raw data for each fetal measurement were modeled by fitting regression models separately to estimate the mean and standard deviation as a function of gestational age. Percentile curves were constructed for each measurement by gestational age using these two regression models. We compared our mean z scores with those expected by reference equations. RESULTS: Measurements were obtained for 792 fetuses. A cubic polynomial model was the best-fitted regression model to describe the relationships between each fetal measurement and gestational age. The standard deviation for each measurement was estimated by simple linear regression as a function of gestational age. Comparison of our mean z scores with those by reference equations showed significant differences in some fetal measurements (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: We present a set of reference percentile charts, tables, and formulas for fetal biometric measurements from a Colombian population. We believe that our fetal charts could be used nationwide in Colombia; nevertheless, a national sample will contribute to their validation and promotion of the development of Colombian fetal size charts.

Características ginecológicas y psicosociales del dolor pélvico crónico / Psychological, social and gynecologic characteristics of chronic pelvic pain

El dolor pélvico crónico es un síndrome prevalente controvertido en cuanto a su definición y a su relación con patología pélvica, problemas psicosocioculturales y su abordaje primario, diagnóstico y terapéutico. Objetivo: describir el perfil sociodemográfico, las patologías orgánicas más frecuentemente observadas, y la asociación con síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en mujeres con dolor pélvico crónico en Cali, Colombia. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo en mujeres con diagnóstico de dolor pélvico crónico que iban a ser sometidas a laparoscopia diagnóstica. Resultados: se estudiaron 30 mujeres que cumplían los criterios de inclusión y aceptaron participar en el estudio. La edad promedio fue de 34,2±6,2 años con duración del dolor pélvico crónico entre uno y diez años. El 76 por ciento de las mujeres vivían en pareja (casadas 53 por ciento, unión libre 23 por ciento), el 40 por ciento pertenecían al estrato socioeconómico 3 (rango I-6), el 53 por ciento eran de raza mestiza, el 50 por ciento tenía escolaridad universitaria. Todas las pacientes presentaron patología pélvica en la laparoscopia; las más frecuentes fueron las adherencias 26,6 por ciento, adenomiosis 20 por ciento, endometriosis 10 por ciento y ovario poliquístico 10 por ciento, con un 43,4 por ciento de combinaciones de múltiples patologías. Se observaron adherencias densas en intestino y pared lateral en el 30 por ciento de las pacientes. La ansiedad evaluada por la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión en el Hospital presentó un porcentaje alto 30 por ciento, en contraste con una baja proporción de depresión 3,3 por ciento. Conclusiones: todas las pacientes estudiadas con dolor pélvico crónico presentaron patología pélvica, principalmente adherencias densas en intestino y pared lateral 30 por ciento, con una mayor proporción de ansiedad que depresión. Estas características ginecológicas y psicosociales son propias de la población estudiada y difieren de estudios reportados previamente en otros grupos poblacionales.